as in intruding
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion
it's rude to interrupt when someone is making an important point
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Recent Examples of interrupting
Nantambu was arrested in June on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly, revealing a link between the incidents.
—
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
An early appearance from the Editor means premature evaluation — a mind interrupting itself just as the creative thoughts were getting fun.
—Big Think, 23 Oct. 2025
Sorry for interrupting you there.
—Outside Online, 22 Oct. 2025
As in Bennett’s other works, vagueness manifests in the book’s sentences, which have a habit of interrupting themselves, thoughts popping in and out with the regularity of a real-life interior monologue.
—Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
At the July gathering, Sheridan’s supporters packed the room and took control, shouting at speakers and interrupting the interpreter’s translations of the discussion into Spanish.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
Matilda had asked, politely interrupting the beginning of what promised to be a windy narrative about the two sorry sons.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Biotech firms are also trying to halt the process, but at a different point — by interrupting various communication pathways involved in cell death.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Dickinson says, interrupting his story.
—Carrie Battan, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
An early appearance from the Editor means premature evaluation — a mind interrupting itself just as the creative thoughts were getting fun.
—Big Think, 23 Oct. 2025
Sorry for interrupting you there.
—Outside Online, 22 Oct. 2025
As in Bennett’s other works, vagueness manifests in the book’s sentences, which have a habit of interrupting themselves, thoughts popping in and out with the regularity of a real-life interior monologue.
—Rhian Sasseen, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
At the July gathering, Sheridan’s supporters packed the room and took control, shouting at speakers and interrupting the interpreter’s translations of the discussion into Spanish.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2025
Matilda had asked, politely interrupting the beginning of what promised to be a windy narrative about the two sorry sons.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Biotech firms are also trying to halt the process, but at a different point — by interrupting various communication pathways involved in cell death.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
Dickinson says, interrupting his story.
—Carrie Battan, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interrupting
Verb
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This ruling is a chilling step toward unchecked government overreach, intruding on the most personal aspects of our private lives.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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If a relatively unknown freelance journalist was suddenly intruding on their good time, perhaps someone had put him up to it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If something’s bothering you, say so.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
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Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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From adding Von Miller to signing Joey Bosa, the team has been particularly aggressive in trying to find players that can pressure and contain Mahomes.—
Jacob Camenker,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
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Shohei Ohtani’s two-way prowess has already forced Major League Baseball to revise its rulebook, adding provisions to protect his ability to pitch and hit in the same game.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Interrupting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interrupting. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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